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Metroid Prime Trilogy Being Updated For the Wii, Due In August

Posted by Soulskill on from the three-for-one dept.

On Friday, Nintendo revealed that the three Metroid Prime games will be re-released on a single disc this August for the Wii. The first two, originally developed for the Gamecube, will be updated so players can "use their Wii Remote to aim with precision." 1Up had this to say of their hands-on preview: "... The heads-up display and on-screen interface elements have been completely overhauled to work more effectively with the standard Wii control setup of remote and nunchuck; swapping visors is a quick point-and-click command, and toggling weapons is similarly easy. Although the control interface isn't perfect — pressing down on the D-pad to fire missiles still grates — it makes the GameCube titles feel much faster and more fluid overall."

50 comments

  1. Nintendo has perfected the art... by dr_wheel · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... of making me buy the same shit over and over again. How do they do it? Damn you, Nintendo!

    1. Re:Nintendo has perfected the art... by EvilNTUser · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Unlike the RIAA and MPAA, they actually update the products when they do it.

      3. Profit

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    2. Re:Nintendo has perfected the art... by basotl · · Score: 1

      I still have a bunch of working NES Cartridges and other games but have also bought the same games on the virtual console and other formats they have released. They are just good at squeezing money out of us and we continue smiling.

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    3. Re:Nintendo has perfected the art... by V50 · · Score: 2, Funny

      The worst bit of it, is they make me think I ENJOY buying the same games over and over! How many times have I bought Super Mario Bros? NES, SNES, GBC, GBA, Wii (actually, twice on the Wii, since I have two).

      I'm still not sure how they've managed to get me to buy the same game around five times, and enjoy it and look forward to more (SMB DS!). This feels like an abusive relationship. :(

    4. Re:Nintendo has perfected the art... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I hate it when they don't invent whole new characters, new back-stories, and new universes from scratch for every single game they make. Why can't the video game industry be more like the movie industry and never make a sequel?

  2. Wii Hardware by phissur · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With MP3, the Wii felt laggy and sluggish. Although it was still playable, it didn't have the precision that I developed with the GameCube controller. I don't see any way around this - the Wii doesn't have the hardware for high-precision. I'd much rather use the GameCube controller than the Wii controller.

    1. Re:Wii Hardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just switch to ogg, I've found its playback to be much much smoother.

    2. Re:Wii Hardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ogg sucks, FLAC is where its at

    3. Re:Wii Hardware by twocows · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm not sure, but I think the motion plus allows for greater precision. At the very least, you could get a wider range of motion (something I felt the game needed).

    4. Re:Wii Hardware by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      Just switch to ogg, I've found its playback to be much much smoother.

      Informative? Can we say "WOOOSH!" to a moderator?

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    5. Re:Wii Hardware by richy+freeway · · Score: 1

      Games have to be written specifically for Motion Plus. Older games won't be able to access the new hardware, unless they're rewritten.

    6. Re:Wii Hardware by 7Prime · · Score: 3, Informative

      True (I think), however, it wouldn't even matter for MP, because the Motion Plus is an augmentation to the accelerometer, and MP really only makes use of the light gun. Motion plus will be great for finally getting that light saber duel game (if it were to ever happen), but it won't have any effect on things like Metroid Prime.

      --
      Multiplayer Gaming (defined): Sitting around, discussing single-player games with my friends, at the bar.
    7. Re:Wii Hardware by EvilNTUser · · Score: 2, Insightful

      In my opinion, the Wii remote loses only to the mouse and keyboard in FPS games. However, I agree that it's sluggish. For example, I started having problems towards the end of Mario Galaxy, because I had until then almost completely avoided using the spin attack due to timing issues. I really didn't know how to use it well by the time I needed it, like in the Luigi platform level.

      The remote needs more buttons, really badly. The motion controls should NEVER be used when a button could do the same job.

      The Wii in general is a great concept, but its hardware limitations are really starting to show. The next generation product can't be as reliant on the motion controls or it'll tank. I also hope Nintendo realizes that many traditional gamers bought it for the sole reason of playing Mario, Zelda and Metroid, not because it's actually a good platform for them. Switching to 100% casual would be a disaster.

      Short term, I would personally at the very least want updated hardware with an integrated 1080p upscaler (or even native. Is it possible to lie to the games and render and antialias polygons more precisely than requested?).

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    8. Re:Wii Hardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Games have to be written specifically for Motion Plus. Older games won't be able to access the new hardware, unless they're rewritten.

      Well, it's a shame that Nintendo isn't updating the Metroid Prime series to be used with new hardware.......

    9. Re:Wii Hardware by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

      I started having problems towards the end of Mario Galaxy, because I had until then almost completely avoided using the spin attack due to timing issues.

      Really? I never had any problems what so ever. What kind if timing issues were you having?

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    10. Re:Wii Hardware by EvilNTUser · · Score: 1

      I kept running into enemies because the spin would either activate too early or too late. Mario games usually have such tight controls that I went into situations where timing was too critical for shaking the remote.

      I admit that it's probably 50% my fault for not having a consistent shake that would trigger the effect the same moment every time. However, I also don't think that any such lag is acceptable, and would rather press a button.

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    11. Re:Wii Hardware by rgo · · Score: 1

      Metroid Prime 3 default control settings make the game feel laggy and sluggish. Those settings are made for newcomers in first person games.
      The game also has a high sensitivity mode, which according to general consensus in gaming forums, that beats the crap out of joystick controls in terms of response.
      Have you tried the advanced control settings?

    12. Re:Wii Hardware by grumbel · · Score: 2, Insightful

      that beats the crap out of joystick controls in terms of response.

      Not really. Have you ever tried to hit anything on that setting without lock-on? Its near impossible because you constantly oversteer. Its not a problem for MP3 since you lock on all the time, but as a general FPS mechanics it doesn't really work. There is also the problem that you will get into a crazy spin each and every time you have a dialog with an NPC, as pointing to the center of the screen is not easy when you don't have any feedback from the interface.

      So as a general dual-analogstick replacement I consider the Wiimote pretty much a failure. Aiming works very well, but rotation via the edge of the screen really doesn't. Thus one thing I would like to see is a game that makes only use of the aiming part and leaves all the rotation to the analogstick (i.e. classic Doom/MetroidPrime1 control, but you can aim at enemies that aren't in the center of the screen).

    13. Re:Wii Hardware by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

      It's interesting, though, because I didn't notice this lag... Or maybe there was a lag and I adapted to it. It's been a while since I played, but I never really had problems with the spin thing as I can recall.

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    14. Re:Wii Hardware by EvilNTUser · · Score: 1

      Maybe lag isn't the correct word. More like I had trouble timing the shake of my hand correctly vs. timing the press of a button. Even if it's my own fault, I still think a button would be better :)

      --
      My Sig: SEGV
    15. Re:Wii Hardware by rgo · · Score: 1
      I know that oversteering could suck on a general FPS, specially if you are playing as a sniper. Some games have some workarounds where you push a button to enter a zoom mode where the pointer moves more slowly (MOHH2 controls are very well implemented).

      Me, having played PC FPS I find the Wii remote easier to use and master than dual analogs. I find that dual analogs suffer of understeering, 180 turns are pain to do. But I don't hate dual analogs, they have some great things like higher precision, which is really useful for people who don't have steady hands (like me).

  3. one question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    one question and likely the only question anyone actually cares about, Can I play it online against the drooling mass's?

    1. Re:one question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wii...Online...Gaming...

      You're joking, right?

    2. Re:one question by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      It's METROID. Why would you even WANT to play that online? The only Metroid with online play was Hunters and AFAIK everybody hates that. Yeah, MP2 has multiplayer but it's pretty much a joke or a demonstration that people should stop whining about the lack of multiplayer in Metroid. If you need online play go grab Onslaught or something.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  4. Oh, God, not again... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I remembered when my roommate in college got Metriod for the GameBoy Color. He spent 48 hours hiding underneath this sleeping bag playing the game straight through, missed his finals for that semester, and was put on academic probation. Totaling the family van didn't help either.

  5. Before people start yelling "make new shit"... by 7Prime · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There are two different companies involved here: Nintendo and Retro Studios. I've only heard mention of Nintendo, so it doesn't sound like Retro is involved in any part of this. From what I've heard, Retro will likely be unveiling their own large title at E3, possibly a new Metroid (come on Metroid 5). They've been saying that they were going to do this, now, for about a year, and its already been released in Japan (which is weird since Metroid is their one big franchise that's more popular in the states), so it's not like they're taking precious development time away from other things.

    Honestly, Metroid Prime 1 is one of my very favorite games, and it will be wonderful to see it in 16:9 with bloom lighting.

    --
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    1. Re:Before people start yelling "make new shit"... by diamondmagic · · Score: 1

      Metroid Prime on the Gamecube already supported progressive scan if you have the component cables (either for the GCN or Wii). Simply wonderful. I hope they improve the graphics just incrementally on what was one of the best looking games of the generation, too. Too bad hardly anyone ever used the graphics processor to its full potential.

      Of course, the fact it is one of the best adventures of all time helps.

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    2. Re:Before people start yelling "make new shit"... by Golddess · · Score: 1

      They've been saying that they were going to do this, now, for about a year, and its already been released in Japan

      I'm not seeing any Metroid game that's been released in Japan but not North America.

      --
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    3. Re:Before people start yelling "make new shit"... by electrosoccertux · · Score: 1

      Poor Retro Studios. Making the same game over and over. They got MP1 right, but the mistake was to bring little new to the table. Further, If Nintendo had marketed MP1 right, I'm pretty certain it would have actually sold (more than the abysmal 200,000 units).

    4. Re:Before people start yelling "make new shit"... by Mr+EdgEy · · Score: 1

      Prime 1 is released as a "New Play Control" title over in Japan already. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_de_Asobu

    5. Re:Before people start yelling "make new shit"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Retro Studios stopped making Metroid games with MP3. That was their last one. Whatever they are doing now (if they are doing anything) it isn't Metroid. I don't like that either, but from the interview you seriously get the impression that all the fun was sucked out of making games due to the deadlines Nintendo imposed (having MP1, MP2, MP:H ready for certain shows, etc.)

      I don't know how they can kick MP1/2 up to 16:9 though - Wii doesn't do HD and those games were engineered for SDTV unless they want to give a hugely expanded field of vision (270 degree viewing?).

    6. Re:Before people start yelling "make new shit"... by rgo · · Score: 1

      yes, on the gamecube it supports progressive scan, but it doesn't have a 16:9 ratio option.

  6. "Bugs" fixed by Mr+EdgEy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The games will most probably have all of the great tricks fixed that made Prime such an amazing game. Dash jumping, triple bomb jump, rapid fire missiles, and so on. It was great to take the game engine to its limits without technically cheating. Not only that, Prime1/2 had an amazing control scheme, 3 just used the wii remote as a gimmick IMO. For info check. http://www.metroid2002.com/home.php

    1. Re:"Bugs" fixed by solcott · · Score: 1, Insightful

      The games will most probably have all of the great tricks fixed that made Prime such an amazing game. Dash jumping, triple bomb jump, rapid fire missiles, and so on. It was great to take the game engine to its limits without technically cheating. Not only that, Prime1/2 had an amazing control scheme, 3 just used the wii remote as a gimmick IMO. For info check. http://www.metroid2002.com/home.php

      Assuming that the US release of the "New Play Control" Metroid Prime is going to be mostly the same as the Japanese release that has been out for a while (and is easily playable in English by people with homebrew enabled Wii's) all of those things are still there.

      I agree that the controls on the GC versions of Metroid were great, but they were the only first person perspective games on a console I could stand to play, and that was probably only *because* they were Metroid games.

      The infrared aiming done by the Wiimote in MP3 is a lot more "keyboard and mouse" like, and once I got my hands on the Japanese remake of Metroid Prime and patched it to English I've only been able to even touch my GameCube Metroid discs once, and that was to see what it was like playing them with a controller instead of a Wiimote

      What is was like was using a web browser without adblocking/mouse gestures/tabs once you have gotten used to having them. You just aren't able to go back to a clunky stiff and slow product once you have used a better version of it.

    2. Re:"Bugs" fixed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Prime1/2 had an amazing control scheme, 3 just used the wii remote as a gimmick IMO.

      What? Were we playing the same games? I stopped playing Prime 1 about ten hours in because I couldn't get used to the clunky, confusing and unnatural controls, where Prime 3 was the first game in the series I could just play and not have to focus on the hunks of plastic in my hands.

  7. It's not that bad. by Tinctorius · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I expected Nintendo/Retro to release the revamped versions as separate titles.

    1. Re:It's not that bad. by Lordnerdzrool · · Score: 1

      Then release two versions of each title, a red and blue version. The red version has half of the enemies, and the blue one has the rest.

  8. arg why cant square enix do this?! by meow27 · · Score: 1

    I really REALLY want to see squaresoft (now enix) classics like FF7 and xenogears redone to for the ps3.
    nintendo keeps doing this and makes a profit. squareenix doesn't. I don't like the bs excuse that they wouldn't like making money over a successful game twice whether. :(
    It pisses me off, its also why im not getting a ps3

  9. Re:arg why cant square enix do this?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Yeah, because they aren't currently working through their NES/SNES catalog with the DS remakes, right? FF7 will be remade within a few years, I bet. And then remade again in a few years after that.

  10. This is by AbsoluteXyro · · Score: 1

    bought SO hard. I haven't bought a Wii game since Mario Galaxy, I haven't turned my Wii ON since December. I wonder if it still works...

    1. Re:This is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course it still works it's made by Nintendo.

  11. "...still grates." What does this mean? by RedDevilCG · · Score: 1

    "Although the control interface isn't perfect, pressing down on the D-pad to fire missiles still grates, it makes the GameCube titles feel much faster and more fluid overall." What does the author mean by "still grates"?

    1. Re:"...still grates." What does this mean? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "is still grating(annoying)"

  12. Would I be breaking the law....? by RedDevilCG · · Score: 1

    Would I be breaking some law if I covered up the sensor with some paper towel or anything else?

    1. Re:Would I be breaking the law....? by Yosho · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, but you won't be able to aim very well.

      (I think you clicked on the wrong article)

      --
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    2. Re:Would I be breaking the law....? by mattack2 · · Score: 1

      But maybe he could 'aim' into the camera. (I think he was trying to reply to http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/22/1714245)

  13. Re:arg why cant square enix do this?! by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

    The difference is that Metroid Prime only needs some small changes to the input code for this update, FF7 would need a redo from the ground up to be presentable on the PS3. They're already running way over budget on FF13 and I don't think a complete FF7 remake would be any cheaper to do.

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  14. Re:arg why cant square enix do this?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't like the bs excuse that they wouldn't like making money over a successful game twice whether. :(

    Exactly where did you hear that excuse? That is BS, because Square-Enix makes a ton of money off of re-releasing old games. Have you seen the countless ports of FF1&2? They've also done a few of FF3-6, Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest 1-6, and so forth. They're not shy about re-releasing games. They're just not re-releasing the ones you want. Get over it and go play one of the countless FF7 sequels or watch the movie(s).

    It pisses me off, its also why im not getting a ps3

    WTF? Because Square-Enix isn't remaking the games you want them to, you're pissed and are not going to buy a console from Sony? How does that make any sense?